Virgin Atlantic to launch transatlantic flights from Belfast
Virgin Atlantic will launch flights from Belfast to Orlando and from Glasgow to Las Vegas next year.
It will be the first time the airline has flown from Northern Ireland and the first time it has flown from Scotland to Vegas, although it already operates seasonal flights from Glasgow to Orlando.
Chief executive Craig Kreeger said: "It’s incredibly important to us to offer customers from all across the UK access to our long haul network during peak travel periods."
Both weekly flights will form part of Virgin Atlantic’s Joint Venture with Delta Air Lines, with the US carrier selling the flights under their codeshare agreement.
Customers will be able to use Delta’s services out of each airport to connect onwards in the US, such as from Orlando to Dallas, Texas and from Las Vegas to Seattle.
A Boeing 747-400 aircraft will operate the flights, which will operate on Thursdays.
The aircraft flying to both US destinations will be configured with 14 Upper Class seats, 66 Premium Economy seats and 375 seats in Economy.
The Belfast to Orlando route will operate in June and July, starting June 25, 2015. Seats will go on sale this week through Virgin Holidays and through Virgin Atlantic from July 25.
The flights from Glasgow to Vegas will operate in September and October, starting on September 10, 2015.
Seats will go on sale through Virgin Holidays this week and through the airline from mid-October.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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